Winter Range Reality: Why Your EV Loses Miles When the Temperature Drops

Episode Description 

Dive into the science behind electric vehicle performance in cold weather as we explore how temperature affects EV batteries, range, and long-term battery health. Learn the difference between temporary cold weather effects and permanent hot weather damage, plus get practical tips for EV ownership in various climates. 

Key Topics Covered 

• Temperature Impact on EV Batteries - How both hot and cold weather affect electric vehicle performance differently
• Cold Weather Range Loss - Why EVs lose 10-20% of range in cold temperatures and how this varies by manufacturer
• Hot Weather vs. Cold Weather Effects - Understanding temporary range reduction versus permanent battery degradation
• Tesla Performance Advantage - How Tesla vehicles lose only about 5% range in cold weather compared to other manufacturers
• Extreme Cold Weather Results - Real-world testing showing some vehicles losing up to one-third of their range in freezing temperatures
• Battery Warming Systems - How built-in battery heaters work and their impact on overall range
• Used EV Buying Tips - What to look for when purchasing EVs from hot climate states like Florida, Texas, and Arizona
• Battery Health Assessment - How to check if an EV battery has been permanently damaged by hot weather exposure
• Range Planning Strategies - Practical advice for adjusting your driving and charging habits based on climate conditions
• Parking and Idle Consumption - Understanding how battery warmers use electricity even when your vehicle isn't being driven

Research Sources

• Inside EVs comprehensive vehicle testing data
• Recurrent automotive research and study findings
• Scientific survey results across multiple EV manufacturers and models

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The Expert Podcast brings you firsthand narratives from experts across diverse industries, including private investigators, general contractors and builders, insurance agencies, vehicle specialists, lawyers, and many others.

So now that we're in the dead of winter in January 2022 it might be good to look at how cold weather affects electric vehicle batteries. EV batteries are affected by temperature hot and cold and cold weather can affect the range of the batteries where hot weather can actually affect the life span of the batteries. And in this article an extensive study was done to check the electric cars range and how much it goes down in cold weather.

It said that the electric car range loss in cold weather is temporary once the weather warms up the cars estimated and rains shift back to normal. However if an electric vehicle is in hot temperatures its battery can permanently degrade which means less range for the life of the vehicle regardless of what happens in the future. So you got to remember that an electric vehicle is very sensitive you want to check out the battery on any vehicle you're looking to purchase because if it's been exposed to hot weather especially charged or discharged in hot weather it can permanently put tendrils and damage inside that battery.
What happens in cold weather well the one of the vehicles they tested had a third less range in freezing temperatures than it does in normal temperatures it dropped a third. Tesla's vehicles lose less only about five percent this again is in cold weather and it's temporary. So in most average vehicles you're going to lose 10 to 20 percent of available range on a cold day means you have to stop more frequently so you can plan for that depending on your climate where you live you can also plan for based on when you're going to use your vehicle.

If you are looking at a used electric vehicle that has been owned and used in a hot weather climate is it coming from florida from texas from arizona you might want to check the electric vehicle battery to make sure it still has good life left in it and it's not been permanently damaged by hot weather. In fact cold weather is such a temporary thing that most electric vehicles have a battery warmer meaning that built into the vehicle there's a small heater that keeps that battery warm in cold climates that will use some electricity so while your car is parked you might be using some of your ev range even if you're not driving the vehicle.

A good breakdown of this scientific survey with all the different vehicles how much it lost can be found at inside evs or even on recurrent which is the source of the research and of that study.